Ross Town Councillors are considering whether it is worth spending around £4000 on barriers to prevent unwanted overnight visitors at the Red Meadow Car Park.

Herefordshire County Council, who collect the payments from the car park have the responsibility to maintain it. The car park has been used several times in the last couple years as temporary stopping places for members of the travelling community.

Herefordshire Council pay for any costs associated with clearing up after anyone uses the car park. However, the public toilets fall under the responsibility of Ross Town Council to maintain.

At the full meeting of Ross-on-Wye Town Council, which was held on Monday, March 14th, the Councillors discussed the potential to install a barrier at the entrance of the car park, which could cost around £4000.

Cllr Richard Mayo told his fellow Councillors that since he was elected in 2013, there had been a few cases of travellers using the car park as a stop-over site. He said since 2013, these cases have become more frequent, and disruptions have increased.

He said that he was looking into putting in a barrier to restrict access at the widest entrance to the car park.

He said he had spoken to the contractor who uses staff to open and close the public toilets in the car park. The contractor told Cllr Mayo that they would ask their staff to open and close the barrier, free of charge to the Council. “This is a golden opportunity to take matters into our own hands,” Cllr Mayo said.

He said that Herefordshire Council would not pay for a barrier at the entrance to the car park, but he said as it was something that could benefit the town and its residents, the Town Council could be proactive in sorting out the problem.

Cllr Mayo told the Councillors, that at this stage, he was just seeking for the other Councillors to indicate their support. He said he did not want to continue to pursue the possibility of installing the barrier, if the proposal was going to be voted against at a later stage.

He added that he had asked for a quote from other companies, and he added that Herefordshire Council and HALO may help with the costs.

Cllr Derek Bedford told the meeting that as the car park was the responsibility of Herefordshire Council, he did not see why Ross Town Council should pay for it.

Cllr Jane Roberts added that Herefordshire Council reap the financial benefit from the car park, and it should not be the job of Ross Town Council to foot the bill, but they should instead put pressure on Herefordshire Council to sort out the problem.

Councillor Harry Bramer also expressed reservations. He said he was concerned the barriers could be a waste of money; if they were opened at 7am, and the travellers arrived after that point, they would not be kept out.

Cllr Chris Bartrum agreed with Cllr Bramer. He added: “I don’t support this at all, I want it out stone dead.” He explained that the car park was not an asset of Ross Town Council, and they have already taken on tens of thousands of pounds worth of assets from Herefordshire Council.

“If it’s such a good idea, let the County pay; it’s their problem, their money they’re losing,” Cllr Bartrum said. “Let the county pay for it from the £23,000 they’re taking from us.”

However, some Councillors were in favour of putting in barriers at the entrance to Red Meadow Car Park. Cllr Julian Gren said: “I think it’s a very good idea; this does cause a big issue for the people in Ross. I hear what Cllrs Bartrum and Bramer are saying, so we could revisit the opening times.”

Cllr Hannah Lerego said: “There’s not a lot of money in any pot anywhere, but in principal I approve and support this. I’d like to see confirmation in writing from Herefordshire Council and HALO?that they’d help with the costs.”

Cllr Phil Cutter said the proposal to put in a barrier was the Town Council responding to public concern; he said the travellers have been there on numerous occasions, and this prevents the residents of Ross from using the car park. “Let’s look after the people of Ross,” he said.

He added that the public toilets are the Town Council’s asset. He said it costs money to clean them after the travellers leave. He proposed that the consideration be put forward in principle. The Councillors moved that they would investigate further.

The Ross Gazette asked the Town Clerk how much the toilets cost to clean. She said: “For this financial year (2015/2016) the Council budgeted £30,000 for cleaning both toilet blocks [the one in Red Meadow Car Park, and the one at Wye Street] (£15,000 each). There are other costs on top of this for repairs and maintenance that covers plumbing costs and repairs to the building.”